The Washington critic., 1887-01-19
THE LEN TALIoNIs.

and of the cars or vessels containing the
same, In case the Dominion authorities
persist in obstructiug the free transit
of American fishing craft through
Canadian waters.
Mr.. Belmont has introduced a similar
bill in the House.
Mr.. Durham has been instructed by
the House Commerce Committee to re-
port favorably on the Edmunds bill
authorizing the President to prohibit
the importation of such articles as he
may deem proper from countries that
discriminate against the importation Of
products from the United States.
As reprisals are iustihablc in time of
war, the assumption Is that there may
be eNigencles which justify retaliation
in times OF peace; but il is, nevGrthe-
less, kind of legislation that doesn't
look business like 1t were better II
the Ter diioBis were allowed to become
dead letter.
If the United States, for instance,
has certain rights, either By virtue of
international law or treaty obligations,
which the Dominion Government not
only refuses to recognize, but arro-
gantly overrides, there must be some
direct and dignilied way of compelling
an adjustment of the difficulty. There
should first be a peremptory demand
for q cessation of the outrages com
planned of aud for damages already
sustained. This not being complied
with, the one and only honorable course
left is to enforce the demand. The
same rule applies between nations as
between individuals in such matters.
The principle involved eau never be
settled in the way proposed by the
German and Belmont resolutions. One
wrong is no excuse for another; neither
is one wrong cure for another. The
effect of the resolutions, should the
President find occasion to exercise the
power which they confer upon him,
would probably be to provoke hostili-
ties, with certain moral advantage on
the side of our Canadian neighbors,
which would not be theirs, were the
United States to adopt bold, out.
spt ken, aggressive policy upon the one
issue already presented.
If we are right we can afford TO 30
ahead, without the tomfoolcry of II
menace to ditch their railroad trains
unless they let our fishing schooners
alone.
If we are not right, we certainly can.
not afford to be made any less 50 by
legislation that will not bear close in,
spection.
But the method of retaliation sug-
gested by the Edmunds resolution,
having reference to our exchange of
commodities with foreign countries, is
still less defensiblc. Here the qucs-
tion is n purely commercial one. If
Germany, for no matter what reason,
discriminates against the American
hog, which she doesn't want, what is
the United States 10 gain by discrimin.
ating against and inhibiting the ian
portaiion of Rhine wine aud Bologna
sausage and Limburger cheese, which
we DO wantS
u Germany or France imports
adulterated foods or drinks into this
country, this fact of itself should be
sufficient warrant for their exclusion,
irrespective of any other consideration.
We should simply adopt in regard to
these articles precisely the same policy
that Bismarck has adopted in regard to
our pork product. We have an un.
doubted right 10 exclude what we
please; for many years We have made
practical application of this principle
through the agency Of a prohibitory
tariff. Germany and France have the
same right, if they choose to make
similar discrim nations.
1t would therefore seem to be the
height of folly to try the compulsory
tactics of retaliation against foreign
governments that are supposed to have
the like control over their own com
mercial regulations that the United
States has always exercised for itself
The laws of trade--Df demand an(
supply-will settle the whole matter il
time much more sensibly than car
ever be done by Intellectual attempts a
intimidation on the part of Congress.
WE ARE not so sure but Colonc
Slockbrldge, the Senutor,clect fror
Michigan, Is just the kind Of Senate
the country most needs lie is said t
be In favor Of maintaining the rcyt
nues of the Government at reasonabl
high figures and eXpending the surplu
in liberal amounts for coast defcnscs,
new navy and other works Of publ
need. There is no question but this
the right financial view. To insuI
general prosperity the GoyernmeI
should keep its money moving, It
not high taxes that the people are su
fering from so much as It Is nj,
gardly, cheese pairing economy. Ever
million dollars that is voted to q legiI
mate and needful object is an addition
guaranty of popular conientment,
Just contribution to the claims of Il
working classes, and vigorous slim
liant 10 business enterprise, Tho Thll
Napoleon showed true statesmanshi
in tearing down old Paris simply to r
build II upon a scale of grandor al
more enduring magnifcence.
The Presidents Message to Co